Here’s another question we commonly get about kids’ teeth at Kits Family Dental, a Childrens Dentist Vancouver…
Unfortunately, it’s very common for a child to have cavities even while avoiding candy. Most people don’t realize that there are many other factors that determine a food’s cavity-causing potential – even naturally-occurring sugars can cause decay! The frequency of eating or snacking and the physical properties of the foods also affect the development of tooth decay.
Frequency — Each time your child eats, the mouth environment becomes more acidic, which is optimal for tooth decay. Over a few hours, the acid in the mouth neutralizes, which halts the tooth decay cycle. If your child is constantly snacking or having sweet drinks throughout the day, there’s not enough time for the mouth to neutralize, so it’s constantly in the perfect condition for cavities to form. These conditions are further enhanced if the foods and snacks are sweet.
A good rule of thumb is to finish off a meal or snack with water to rinse the mouth and kick-start the neutralization process.
Physical Properties of Food — Foods that are sticky and sweet are the worst combination. Sticky foods adhere to teeth for long periods of time, which allows the bacteria that cause tooth decay more time to break down the tooth. Even snacks that aren’t candy or junk food, such as dried fruit, contain large amounts of natural sugars and stick to the teeth, creating the perfect environment for tooth decay.
Avoid constant snacking and sticky, sweet foods as well as candy to help ensure that cavities don’t get a chance to form! For further tips about cavities and how to avoid them, don’t be afraid to come in and ask!
